We need heating around 200 days of the year but during the warmer summer months, a little cooling is needed to take the edge off those warm days. Cooling dwellings and office spaces using water-based delivery systems have been used extensively around the world for decades, but now an addition to the technology is using floor, wall, and ceiling surfaces with water pipes to radiantly cool. Interest in this approach is gaining popularity worldwide as people discover the benefits. This form of cooling is new to the New Zealand market and you can learn more about the options available.
Inslab Underfloor Cooling
The rise in popularity of inslab heated floors in New Zealand over recent years has led Central Heating New Zealand to research the European market on the suitability of cooling the slabs to provide cooling relief comfort for the warmer months. Using the same air-to-water heat pump for warming the floor slab in winter, we can now confidently put it in a reverse cycling chilling mode, and it cools the floor slab down.
We have been involved in a range of commercial radiant underfloor cooling projects with the first one being the Halswell Residential College, Christchurch in 2012, where we worked closely with the consultant for successful heating and cooling underfloor system commissioned in 2016. Since then we have undertaken testing at our own premises, cooling the 200m2 showroom underfloor system and monitoring performance.
Key project
The Christchurch Justice Precinct foyer area underfloor heating and cooling were designed in conjunction with the consultant engineer and supplied by Central Heating New Zealand. The system was commissioned in 2018.
The advantages of this type of cooling:
- The radiant cooling effect from underfloor cooling provides an increase in human comfort with only a marginal decrease in air temperature
- Much higher flow temperatures are used in the slab than in a fan coil system which significantly increases the system efficiency
- As we are cooling the surface and not just the air, having doors and windows open has a reduced effect on the running costs of the underfloor cooling system. This factor increases the suitability for the Kiwi summer lifestyle.
- Central Heating New Zealand has specifically designed the new intuitive Smart One Controller for New Zealand radiant heating and cooling systems.
Hydronic Fan Coils
A refrigerant chiller outdoor unit (reversible heat pump) cools the water for the system. The water is pumped to fan coil radiators situated around the house or building. The fan coil radiators use a built-in electric fan to pass warmer room air over the water coil that has chilled water flowing through it. This cools the air and releases it into the room reducing the air temperature. A more traditional air conditioner has the same principle of transferring cool air to a room but instead of water in the pipes, a special refrigerant is used.
Key project
Panorama Terrace – Hydronic ducted fan-coil provides cooling from the geothermal heat pump system. This was the first cooling system designed and supplied by Central Heating New Zealand in 2008.
Wall & Ceiling Cooling
For years we have known the human body is most comfortable when heated radiantly, such as standing in the sun, but more recent understandings show that cooling the body radiantly is also preferred to moving air as typical air condition does. Positioning water pipes in the walls and ceilings of homes enables heated or chilled water to provide gentle radiant comfort without noise, drafts, or dust movement.
For 40 years Austrian company Variotherm has been perfecting indoor climate comfort. Central Heating New Zealand is proud to be associated with this innovative company and offer their products in New Zealand. The Variotherm Module Wall and Ceiling is an ideal enhancement to the room cooling: The rooms are pleasantly cooled in summer and heated in winter to an even temperature. Variotherm cooling is a healthy alternative to standard air conditioning systems as the rooms are cooled over the entire surface and an even, comfortable room temperature is created making you feel comfortable all round. It also saves up to 30% of energy costs compared to standard air conditioning units and as there is no forced air there is no noise.
Rinnai High Wall Heat Pump
For simple stand-alone cooling of a single space, the new Q series from Rinnai is the latest generation of Hi Wall heat pump air conditioner that fits our increasingly wireless lifestyle.
Using the latest R32 eco-friendly refrigerant the Q series achieves greater energy efficiency ratings. Indoor Hi Wall unit and separate outdoor unit connected via refrigerant pipes.
Rinnai Ducted Heat Pumps
For simple multiroom cooling the Rinnai Ducted system enables hidden installation for full cooling, heating and dehumidifying solution.
The indoor unit is located in the ceiling space and ducting from this to outlets in multiple rooms enables the flow and return of conditioned air. The Outdoor and indoor units connected via refrigerant pipes.
Wi-Fi enabled app for iOS and Android control. We can assist with design and supply of ducting and accessories.
